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Announcement RChD: Creación y Pensamiento Vol. 9, Nº 17| NOV 2024 | Open Topic. Deadline for full manuscript submission: July 31, 2024. 

Challenges and improvement strategies on e-waste management and processing

Authors

  • Romina Cayumil Montecino Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
  • Marcelo Adasme Valdés Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
Vol. 3 No. 5 (2018): November
https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-837X.2018.49916

Abstract

The rise of the use of electric and electronic equipment (eee), has resulted in the increase of the quantities of electronic waste (e-waste) generated worldwide. These solid residues are the fastest waste stream worldwide, increasing 3 to 4% annually. It has been estimated that in 2018, 49.8 Mt will be produced globally, however, only 20% would be formally processed. There are several factors that directly influence on the e-waste generation, such as the programmed obsolescence, technology advances, and the need of newer, faster and updated equipment. This article reports problems related to the e-waste generation worldwide, and improvement alternatives to minimize the environmental impact associated to the e-waste disposal. Among the problems, amounts of e-waste generated globally and regionally are presented, and the inherent complexity related to the eee composition, and consequent limitations in the e-waste management. The alternatives to address these issues are based on the concept of circular economy, that considers not only the final product, but also the design, process and impacts related to the manufacture. Those alternatives include the green product design and changes on the manufacture of eee, and sustainable recycling processes once the eee reach their end-of-life, including the materials substitution during the manufacturing process by using environmentally friendly substances.

Keywords:

circular economy, e-waste, obsolescence, recycling, sustainability

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How to Cite
Cayumil Montecino, R., & Adasme Valdés, M. (2018). Challenges and improvement strategies on e-waste management and processing. RChD: Creación Y Pensamiento, 3(5). https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-837X.2018.49916
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RChD: creación y pensamiento
Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo
Universidad de Chile
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